Flooding is one of the most serious climate-related hazards. It affects around 250 million people each year, causing more economic and human losses than any other kind of natural hazard. And by 2060 it’s predicted that more than 1 billion people are likely to be living in cities in danger of catastrophic flood events.
As news emerges that the Paris climate agreement could be under threat, the need for new ideas to help vulnerable communities become more resilient to flooding has never been more urgent.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to building resilience. But innovation is proving to be one of the keys to success. From enhancing natural and man-made infrastructure to waterproofing crops, there are countless different examples of resilience in action across the globe.
In this DevExplains video, we break down what flood resilience is, why it matters, and explore some truly innovative examples of new solutions and partnerships that could help.
Take a look at Global Resilience Partnership’s Water Window finalists here.
About the authors
Naomi Mihara
Naomi Mihara is an Associate Editor for Devex, working on creative and audiovisual projects. She has a background in journalism and international development, having previously served as an assistant correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun and as a communications officer for the International Organization for Migration in Southeast Asia. She holds a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University.
Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan is a journalist and editor, primarily focusing on climate change, migration, humanitarian crises, and human rights. She was previously an Associate Editor at Devex, where she managed the op-eds section and led a project covering climate resilience in small island developing states. Helen was also features editor at World Politics Review, and editor and writer at the environmental think tank WRI, as well as editing for The New Humanitarian. She lives and works in Barcelona, Spain.
Carine Umuhumuza@CarineUmu
Carine Umuhumuza is a former associate director of communications at Devex, where she wrote about the latest trends, tips, and insights on media and communications for the global development community. Previously, Carine led digital initiatives at Devex for development agencies, major corporations, NGOs, and social enterprises.
